McGrath says emotional goodbye.

In a packed press conference held at the Diamond Club, inside Edison International Field at Anaheim, an emotional Jeremy McGrath confirmed that he'd be retiring from racing - with instant effect.

However, in his carefully prepared statement, the seven times Supercross champ stressed that he's viewing the 2003 season as his farewell tour - and although he won't ride, he will go to every round to meet, greet and thank the many fans who have supported him throughout his illustrious career.

Before the press conference began, Davey Coombs of Racer X Illustrated gave the following introduction:

"The record book shows Jeremy McGrath at the top of almost every category: 89 career wins; 72 supercross main event wins; eight major titles; 13 main event wins in a row; 17 total race wins in a row; 15 wins and a pair of supercross titles in the 125 class.

"Obviously, his record speaks for itself. But it will be years before we can fully appreciate his contributions to the sport and what he really meant to supercross. Jeremy ushered in a new era of popularity and professionalism in supercross. His technique, his charisma, his everything has made the sport better, stronger and faster. There is no way one could oversell what he's meant to supercross directly and the industry in general. Jeremy McGrath is Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, all rolled into one.

"When he was coming up through the ranks, Jeremy's nickname was 'Showtime', which matched both his style and his personality. It was the industry - the media, the fans, his friends and his competitors - that changed it to the 'King of Supercross'. Because if anyone ever deserved a nickname of royal origins, it's Jeremy McGrath.

"He even changed the way supercross was actually ridden. Coming from a BMX background, he incorporated those low-jumping techniques into his approach. This revolutionary style saw him dominate the sport for almost a decade before the next generation of riders - all of them employing some of his trademark technique - finally started to catch up.

"Jeremy McGrath was also the single most influential person in the freestyle motocross movement. His signature Nac-Nac trick, another BMX-inspired move, ushered in the video and contest era. And his remarkable ability to whip the bike around in the air thrilled supercross fans all over the world. Whether it was the parade lap, the first lap or the last lap of a race, everyone was watching Jeremy to see what he would do next.

"His success on the track was matched by his charisma off it. He brought a new era of professionalism to our sport by breaking into the mainstream almost single-handedly. When fans look out across the pits at all of the big rigs with outside sponsors and long lines of fans waiting to get autographs, the TV trucks and the mainstream media, and know that the first time most of them ever heard about supercross, it was because of Jeremy McGrath. It is impossible to quantify what the supercross tour owes Jeremy McGrath."

McGrath then made his entrance and read a carefully prepared speech, in which the 'King of Supercross' explained exactly why he's retiring from the sport he loves so much:

"Thanks everyone for coming out this afternoon. As many of you may know, this week has been an extremely challenging, difficult, and emotional time for me. There have been reports out there, but it means a lot to me to be able to tell everyone here about my retirement announcement in the right way.

"First, and foremost, it is crucial for not only my peers and members of the industry to know - but for race fans and enthusiasts of this great sport to know - that although I am announcing my retirement, this 2003 season should be looked at as my farewell tour. Kind of a way for me to say goodbye over a four-month period.

"Although I will not be racing this year, I will be at all of the races. I will be expanding my autograph session, and additionally, with Clear Channel's continued support, I will be part of the opening ceremonies at each event. It is my sincere hope that these efforts throughout the 2003 supercross season will allow me the opportunity to meet and greet as many race fans as possible and be able to thank as many individuals as I can for the many, many years of overwhelming and enthusiastic support I have received.

"This sport truly has the greatest fans. I remember, countless times when people have come up to me in the pits and told me they've named their kids after me, and so many guys who've come up to me and had pictures of me tattooed on their arms - kind of wierd [smiles] - but I feel very honoured to have touched so many peoples lives.

"I want to go back to the comment I made about the reports being out there. It is true that my recent injuries have played a role in my decision to retire, but timing has also played an equally important role. By that I mean, after a great deal of thought and retrospect and looking at this wonderful career I've had, this sport has brought me more than I could have ever imagined or dreamed. It just seems like the right time, I'm closing this chapter - the racing and competition part - and starting the next chapter in my life.

"As many of you may know, this summer during a test session, I sustained an injury. And while I was laying on the ground for about three hours with my dislocated hip, it made me stop and think about my life, my family, and my future. I had every intention of fulfilling my [KTM] contractual obligation and racing for the next two years.

"I know many of you are probably wondering, Why now? And to be honest with all of you, I never knew how this was all going to end. I actually thought I would have been retired by now [smiles]. But during these past few seasons, I continued to be motivated and I wanted to be out there. I wanted to win. I love the competition. However, as all of you may or may not know, it kills me to be out there and not winning.

"To me, this sport is a lifestyle. A passion, not just a job. I promised myself early on in my career, if and when I wasn't 100 percent focused and motivated, it was time to step down. And it is important to me to keep that promise to myself. This sport has given me everything and is something I really love.

"However, if you get to the point where you have doubts and hesitation, it can become your enemy, and I could grow to hate it. I love the sport too much to ever let something like that happen."

"I guess that was the hard part, right?" joked McGrath after reading the emotionally charged statement. "Let me just tell you all what I will be doing: I'm writing my autobiography... which will be out in the fall of 2003, I'm also will be working on expanding my production company Clutch Films... I will continue working on my personal merchandising efforts - and I'm looking forward to starting a family."

A tearful McGrath then went on to thank the individual's and companies who have helped him throughout his career, which included his family, old BMX friends [who introduced him to Motocross], his Mechanic Skip Norfolk and all his former team managers.

"To measure what Jeremy has meant to the sport of Supercross you only need to look at the number of people in the stands, the length of the lines at his autograph sessions, the roar of the audience when he is introduced, and the incredible strobe of flashbulbs during his hot laps," said Charlie Mancuso, president of Clear Channel Entertainment - Motor Sports.

"He has the looks of a movie star, the charisma of a rock star and he is humble and accessible unlike most world class athletes. The records he set in Supercross pale in comparison to the impact he had on the motorcycle industry. Those of us that know him are privileged; he is so much more than the greatest racer ever," added Mancuso.

During a record breaking professional career, McGrath won 72 250cc main events alone and claimed a total of eight 250cc AMA championships - seven of which came from his favoured discipline of Supercross. As part of Team USA, a proud McGrath also claimed two Motocross des Nations titles, in 1993 and 1996.

Without doubt he helped boost the world wide appeal of Supercross, and his trademark trick - the Nac-Nac [where he threw his right leg back-and-around the rear fender while in midair] was way ahead of it's time and frequently caught the attention of mainstream media, arguably helping the Freestyle MX movement currently storming the off-road world.

Jeremy's golden years were between 1993-96, with Honda, where he won four consecutive 250 Supercross crowns and in 1995 took the Outdoor MX title as well to be the undisputed king. He then took Supercross domination to new heights one year later, when he won 14 of the 15 rounds.

McGrath left Honda for Suzuki at the end of the '96 season, and although he lost the 1997 championship to Jeff Emig, he went on to prove his talent and determination by reclaiming the crown, after moving to Chaparral Yamaha, in '98, '99 and 2000. It may be hard enough to win a championship, but it's even harder to repeat the achievement with a new team - Jeremy would ride for Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM during his professional career.

2001 would be the season that his domination ended - sharply - as Kawasaki's rising star Ricky Carmichael finally stopped crashing and adapted his frightening outdoor speed to the technical Supercross circuits, to devastating effect.

McGrath started the year promisingly with two victories, but his 72nd 250cc win at Anaheim II would be the last time 'SuperMac' stood on the top step of the podium, as Carmichael swept to his first Indoor top class title.

2002 saw Jeremy and his McGrath Racing outfit remain with Yamaha, and although he was a pre-season favourite, the year was without a victory and he slipped to third in the point's standings, behind Carmichael and David Vuillemin, despite a multitude of podium finishes.

For 2003 KTM and McGrath Racing signed a four-year agreement for the 31-year-old to ride the new 250 SX in the AMA Supercross/FIM World SX GP championships, plus other selected events.

The move seemed a clever one as it would allow the super-smooth McGrath to use his experience to develop the powerful Austrian machine into a SX winner - and perhaps even claim the company's first premier class AMA victory.

The former BMX star was then expected to retire from racing after the 2004 season, spending the final two years of the KTM contract as a team manger, however the future of McGrath Racing remains in the air with no word given of his future plans in today's speech.

Universally popular among fans and riders alike, McGrath can now take a well-deserved rest from the Supercross spotlight, but while he may never start a main event again his legacy - and records - will echo around Supercross stadiums for a long, long time to come.

But lets leave the last word to Jeremy himself, who when asked today if he would ever make a return to racing to retain his national number, said with a smile: "I think everybody knows my number."

Jeremy McGrath - career achievements:
Year-end AMA Ranking:

2002:3rd (SX)
2001:2nd (SX)
2000: 1st (SX), 23rd (250MX)
1999:1st (SX), 21st (250MX)
1998:1st (SX), 14th (250MX)
1997: 2nd (SX), 3rd (250MX)
1996:1st (SX), 2nd (250MX)
1995:1st (SX), 1st (250MX)
1994:1st (SX), 3rd (250MX)
1993: 1st (SX), 3rd (125MX)
1992:16th (SX), 1st (West-SX), 8th (125MX)
1991:1st (West-SX), 5th (125MX)
1990: 2nd (West-SX), 44th (125MX)
1989:8th (West-SX), 50th (125MX)

Key:
SX = AMA Supercross [250cc]
West-SX = AMA West Coast Supercross [125cc]
MX = AMA Outdoor Nationals [250 or 125 as indicated]

Jeremy McGrath's AMA Pro Racing records:

Most AMA Supercross victories: 72Most AMA Supercross Championships: 7Most AMA Supercross/Motocross wins: 89Most single-season Supercross wins: 14 [1996]Longest AMA Supercross winning streak: 13 [1996]Most AMA 125 Regional Supercross wins: 13